Stop the Greenwash!

Exxon's slick Greenwashing

Did you know that ExxonMobil's greenhouse gas emissions increased by 8.7 million metric tons between 2003 and 2006? Or that gas flaring - the practice of burning the natural gas that is released when they drill for oil - has increased by 279 million cubic feet per day over the same three year period? And that although Exxon has cut the number of oil spills, the actual quantity of oil spilled has increased? The chances are you didn't as the company's recent 'green' advertising campaign has been especially created to dupe the public. Yet even ExxonMobil's Corporate Citizenship Report can't hide the glaring discrepancy between the new image conveyed by the company and the actual facts. The 'greening' of oil giant Exxon is at most a slick public relations sham.

ExxonMobil's misleading advertising

Earlier this year, ExxonMobil published several adverts in the European press, portraying the company as environmentally friendly and claiming that Exxon is investing in reducing the greenhouse gases it emits in its production processes.

Two advertisements in the European Voice entitled

• "Taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions"
• "Values at work"

assert that ExxonMobil has implemented several initiatives to reduce GHG emissions from its operations worldwide, has improved its energy efficiency, limited the number of harmful oil spills and provided funds for research of new low-emissions technologies. These statements, however, are inconsistent with figures from the company's own corporate citizenship report. In fact, emissions have been rising steadily over the last few years. In 2006, the greenhouse gas emissions generated by Exxon rose by 5.4%. Furthermore, claims that the number of oil spills have decreased since 2005 are designed to draw attention away from the fact that the actual amount of oil spilled has more than tripled. [Click here to see some more facts]

But Exxon doesn't only advertise in newspapers: for example, ceiling-high ads along the length of walkways at Brussels International Airport (Zaventem) try to paint the oil giants image green. [Click here to see some ads]

Friends of the Earth is convinced that ExxonMobil should not be allowed to mislead the public with its 'green' advertising. The oil giant's public image should not misrepresent its real activities. That's why on 19 November 2007, we submitted a formal complaint to the Belgian government (Ministry of Economic Affairs) against ExxonMobil's advertising at Brussels airport. 644 people complained simultaneously after we offered the public the opportunity to sign up to it through the website www.exxon-files.eu.

• Read the complaint
• See the list of signatories

Also check out the EXXON Files - an animation based on the X-Files exposing how Exxon is paying "experts" to deny climate change.

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NEW
Nominations are now open for the fourth edition of the Worst EU Lobbying Awards! Click here to suggest candidates

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ExxonMobil's slick Greenwashing
FoEE with the support of 644 signatories ask the Belgian government to take down Exxon's misleading advertising at Brussels Airport (19 Nov 2007)
- read the complaint
- see the signatories
- read more

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new report (26 Sept 2007)

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Financing EN, FR
Gender Issues EN, FR
Mining EN, FR
Oil and Gas EN, FR
Social Impacts EN, FR

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European Commission fails to provide requested documents on meetings with car industry
(25 September 2007)

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